HIV

By Luke F-rd

5/11/98

Known as the "steroid kid" by his peers, muscular John West wandered into PAW and World Modeling Monday to take a PCR/DNA HIV test. John has been quarantined for the last three weeks since he worked with HIV positive Caroline aka Katalin. John has tried to work several times since his shoot with Caroline, in violation of Free Speech Coalition/PAW testing procedures. John is unpopular with many of his peers now because they believe his recklessness endangers them.

Meanwhile, the peers of HIV positive veteran Marc Wallice want him to make public his last few HIV Elisa tests which supposedly showed him to be negative. Some folks in the porn industry suspect that Marc may have faked his negative tests and may have worked for months in the industry knowing he was HIV positive. Marc's peers are less concerned about when he caught the HIV virus than when Marc knew he had the virus. They want to know if he altered his recent Eliza tests, and knowingly had sex with people while HIV positive.

Wallice has been semi-blackballed from the industry for several years for his dangerous and aberrant ways. Marc's boss at Elegant Angel, Patrick Collins, is reportedly furious with Marc. Marc shoots a series for Pat. Collins is now in Europe, perhaps the Cannes film festival (with Russ Hampshire and other leading entertainment powers?).

Marc is currently under the care of John Stagliano's doctor. Marc and John seem united by their common HIV problem.

I arrived in Sherman Oaks at 10:45. Bill Margold and blonde Lauretta manned the PAW office. The atmosphere was quiet and calm, a notable contrast to ten days ago.

On the wall above Bill's desk are two papers: One listing the performers who worked with Caroline that have not tested PCR negative yet, and the other listing those who've worked with Marc Wallice.

All but six performers have tested negative with the PCR/DNA HIV procedure. Those six have either not tested yet or their results have not returned. The one person who has worked with an HIV positive performer who has not been found is a female performer named Divine (who worked with Marc 1/2/98?) aka Caroline Brookman. Alyssa Love is supposed to send her test result from Texas. Raylin is testing in Texas.

On the Caroline list, Rob King and John West need to test. Alex Sanders (4/11) and Scotty Schwartz (3/18) have tested and are waiting for their results.

On Sunday morning, 5/10/98, Bill Margold received a call from Joey Silvera who's shooting porn in Hungary. It seems that the Europeans, led by the French porn mag Hot Video, want to isolate their porn world from the American one, which they perceive as HIV ravaged.

"Katalin [the real first name of Caroline, a Hungarian girl who tested HIV positive in early April] has been mistaken for another Hungarian girl Katatika. So they are all in uproar. They think that two of their girls in Los Angeles have returned to Hungary and are HIV positive… Agnes Zabor who uses the performing name Eve… Eve has tested negative several times and remains here in California. She is a comforting friend to Caroline.

"This is the tragedy of networking," says Margold. "Call it nit-working. It's sad that these names are being transposed and mistaken. I don't think Caroline and Eve want to be bothered with this.

"This might create isolationism in X. It might reinstitute Ellis Island. Of course when sainted Hart Williams reads this, he will go ballistic. How dare Margold suggest reinstituting Ellis Island…. He is trapped in the net.

"I am going to make a statement about the internet in an upcoming AVN article that will announce that Halloween is 366 days a year on the internet. And that people on the internet are the biggest pack of cowards that I have ever dealt with in my whole life because they do not use their real names. Is Luke F-rd your real name?"

Luke: Yes.

Bill: "That is to your credit. It is a nice name. At least you are not a coward. I first entered the net under the name LemLarry because I liked Lem, Barney and Larry. But that did not make any sense. So I went immediately to my own name. But I am not Boochie, or Torris…

"What really bothers me about the internet, more than anything else, is that everyone closes off with statements that they have taken from somebody else. I live off of my own statements. I don't need to quote Abraham Lincoln or Austin Powers."

Phone rings. It's Roxanne Hall at 10:54 AM.

"Are you guys drawing blood yet?"

Bill: It's an exciting thought but we don't start for six minutes."

Roxanne: "Can you make one exception?"

Bill and Luke laugh.

Bill: "Huh? I don't know how to do it, so we have to wait for the woman to get here."

Rox: Oh, f---ing great. Thanks.

Bill: I love the accent.

Luke: Who's the beautiful blonde who draws the blood?

Bill: That's Stephanie. She's known as the golden possum. She's elegant, a certain Corinthian leather look about her that preserves her well.

Luke: Is she a performer?

Bill: No, I think she simply performs by living.

Bill talks to a young black girl in for her PCR test.

"[About Europe] I have a feeling that somebody needs to blame somebody. It's pulling rabbits out of their hat. Perhaps they feel that ugly Americans are infecting their virginal Hungarian girls and sending them home HIV positive."

Roxanne Hall walks in. "I am supposed to be on a shoot right now but I told them that I was leaving for Europe on Saturday [May 16 with hubby John Decker and JJ Michaels- partners in the newly formed Phantom Productions]. So today is my deadline. I have to get tested now. I am in such a hurry."

Bill to Rox: "Here, do some paperwork." He gives her a sheet to fill out.

Luke to Bill: Where was Marc doing his tests?

[I had heard it was in some remote place, thereby, presumably, making it easier to alter the tests. I've heard that Marc's blood work shows that he has had HIV for at least several months.]

Bill: In the [San Fernando] Valley. With a doctor he is comfortable with. We [PAW clinic] did not exist at that time. We've only been doing this since the end of March.

Bill appeared with Roxanne in a movie for Arrow called Net Dreams. It was directed by Thomas Paine, "I had a wonderful dying scene," says Bill. "I killed myself in midget vision. There is a midget who poisons me with soda pop. I had to do the scene six times to get it right and rubbed my wrist bone raw falling off the landing. It was fun. That's the reason I got into this business - to die in movies. I never thought of doing anything else."

Luke to Bill: Do you think Marc Wallice knew he was HIV positive before my internet report?

Bill: No. I don't think he would've come to PAW to get tested if he knew he was HIV positive. I think that his shock upon reading your web page on Thursday, 4/23/98, was total, genuine and absolute. Unless anyone can categorically prove the situation, I don't need suppositions. I know there are certain people on the net now, Boochie among them, who just want to villify the man.

Phone rings.

It's Phil Berman. Margold accidentally hangs up on him, then calls him back and puts him on speaker phone.

Dave Cummings walks in with a young blonde performer named Tangerine.

Bill: Is this a father-daughter act?

Dave: We've been in a couple of movies together. And even though we did two scenes, she asked me to keep f---ing her.

Tangerine giggles.

Bill to Phil Berman: Luke F-rd is here.

Phil: Oh no. You're giving information to someone who will misquote you.

Bill: I don't believe so. His tape recorder is right here. He'll come see you?

Phil: Not a chance. I'm not saying anything to him.

Bill, Luke, Dave Cummings and Tangerine laugh.

Bill: That's going to wind up on the net now. Phil Berman says: "Not a chance. I'm not saying anything to him."

Phil speaking: "…should be shot…"

Luke: "Did he say I should be shot?"

Bill wraps up his phone conversation with Phil.

Margold says his group FOXE [Fans of X-rated Entertainment] has about 1800 members. Bill says the PAW bowlathon on April 19th was cancelled by the ABC… Alcohol Beverage Control said we could not have bowling, liquor and nudity…

"I've always wanted FOXE to be much bigger than it is, but I guess it never will be. I've long looked for people to create community leadership and put up little fox nets around the United States but that has never happened. FOXE is a time consuming, financially unrewarding… It costs more than it has ever made. FOXE helps subsidize PAW.

"When FOXE was first created [1989], it sent money to the Pink Ladies [a performers guild started by Nina Hartley, Veronica Vera, Sharon Mitchell and others…] Someone out there is a check to the Pink Ladies… After Megan [Leigh] died [1992?], the Pink Ladies collapsed.

"Viper wrote my Porn Star Handbook in three hours based on the things she heard from me. Then we printed up some copies and sold them for $12 each. Now we charge $15. Nothing I do ever makes money.

"I am not complaining. I eat regularly. I had a wonderful meal last night at the Wilson's house. I have never been hungry in my life. People love to watch me eat and hear me tell stories."

Luke: Everyone asks me how does Margold make his living?

Bill: I have low overhead. I have no debts. Few possessions. I write for the LA Xpress and AVN. And I am creative consultant in certain situations. If I help somebody out….

"Nena Cherry. I supported her through last year's crucifixion and I will continue to do so. We've seen tests that show she may be negative."

Luke: Do you believe them?

Bill: Dr. York [of the FSC] believes them.

Bill turns to some pregnant women who've walked in. "Hi kids?"

Luke: "They are performers?"

Bill: "Pregnant ladies get to work too until they're ready to drop."

Luke: How much money do you make from FOXE and PAW?

Bill: None.

Luke: I think Brandy wrote something about you connecting porn fans with stars?

Bill: She thinks FOXE is a pimping operation. Brandy does not want to get into the discussion of trading services for economic gain.

Sharon Mitchell hopes to bring an OBGYN into PAW-Jim South's World Modeling once a week to do pap smears and the like.

Bill: We'd have to strip the rug.

Sharon: Imagine all the things that could fall out of there.

Sharon Mitchell announces that Caroline? does not want any more help from PAW but is going on to a private physician.

Bill to Sharon: I got a call from Joey at 7:30 Sunday morning. Hot Video is causing trouble.

Sharon: And I got one from Patrick too.

Over the telephone I talked with six-year veteran male performer Rick Masters. Ex-porn star Nena Cherry told me that Rick had told her in late 1996 that he knew there was an HIV positive man working in porn. Rick today did not recall telling Nena this. He did recall saying that a man [Marc?] was still being allowed to work even though he had been caught altering his HIV test results. Rick has been married two weeks. His wife performs under the name Charese.

Bill and I talk beside a spunky new brunette performer from Texas named Gina Ryder.

Bill hates breast implants. He believes they give women "implant schizophrenia," so that their body rejects them. "I think it led to Viper's insanity. After ten months, or so, their bodies say 'get out.' Men think they want big breasts because they are enamored with mommy.

"It's not porn producers as much as dance agents who push for it. It's become a competition now among the girls, a strange form of body building in only one portion of their body."

Luke: Do you remember a guy named Brad Gunches?

Bill: Of course. He did everything. Was around from 1988-95. Then he disappeared. Worked for Jim South. In the winter of 1994, he told the Detroit Lions were going to do ok. He was able to pick every game we won that year. But as with every person who works in the candy store, they eventually want to eat the candy, which gives them a mental and physical stomach ache.

When I ran an agency, I got to work on camera. So why would I want to work off camera? That's how I met Brandy Alexandre. I kept her out of the business for several years. It wasn't until Viper entered our lives that she became power mad.

Luke: What drives her?

Bill: Clairol. Blonde hair. It's bleached her brain. Brandy and I are linked at the hip because of what we went through. Brandy is the Lady MacBeth of cyberspace. All three witches and Lady MacBeth.

"With the internet, Brandy found a virgin territory and impregnated it with her thoughts first. When I came on the net, I genuflected to her, and asked her to teach me [how to use the net]. Then in one famous chat, when I asked her how her cat was, she replied: 'What business is it of yours?' That did not make me happy because her cat is the sister of my cat. Kamikaze is Pogo's sister.

"PAW faxes 20 concerned companies every day with info on the HIV genealogies."

From San Antonio, Texan Gina Ryder entered porn near the end of April, as the industry struggled with its most serious HIV outbreak yet. Ryder stripped in clubs for 18 months "and was ready for the next level. I had gotten to the high level of dancing… Now I am working my way up in this world."

In February of 1998, Gina got breast implants for $3800, moving to a 34D. "I've had nothing but positive results from it."

Her favorite video so far is Tales of Perversity (with Brick Majors) for Elegant Angel's Marc Wallice, shortly before my news on his HIV + positive status hit the internet.

Condom only Gina plans to be in the adult industry for the long haul to make as much money as possible. Her stocky briefcase holding boyfriend Joe stood beside her as we talked. "I don't know how long I will insist on condoms. But while I am new to the industry. I am still learning who is who, learning who injects… Who does drugs… "

Joe and Gina have dated for three years, living together since the end of 1996, and engaged since October 1997.

"We have probably seen three porn movies in our whole life. We're not very sexual. We're just in this business for the money. We want to get to know the industry. She's in it for the name and status. Come the turn of the century, the adult industry is going to be explosive. Once we get a cure for AIDS. It won't be for the guy in a trenchcoat masturbating in a corner, rather it will be for couples. It will create strength in marriage.

"We probably have a better relationship than anyone. We are open. Men cheat, women cheat. You have to accept that. America is a great country but it needs to open up its sexuality. Even if you are married, you are going to want to have physical contact with others. It doesn't mean you are going to lose anything emotionally from your relationship. It has made us more secure.

"Now is a very scary time, considering the four HIV cases in the last few months. But when you see how it was spread, who did it and who the partners were, and it is not so scary. I am not going to name names. [He seems to be referring to Marc Wallice.] It's over. PAW, with its testing, has finished it. If you are stupid and are not going to take tests, you should only mess with your own life, not other peoples'.

"I thought the industry would be scary with drugs, mafia, Boogie Nights, Jerry Springer show… But it is nice. We are here to make money in this billion dollar industry. We're here to make money and achieve status and stardom. There is no sneaky underground to this industry. At least we have not seen it."

Gina: "No one makes you do anything you don't want to do.

"We just got in touch with Jim South and came out. He's taken good care of us.

"We've mainly been shooting for Elegant Angel."

In Jim South's office, talent coordinator Steve Austin (not his real name) cradled the baby of a hispanic performer in his arms. He seems adept with children, probably part of the reason for his success as a talent coordinator. Steve has a BA in Elementary Education and teaches on the side under his real name.

Jim South Jr was also at work. A dark, handsome half-Hispanic 22-year old young man about 5'9, he sports ear rings in both ears and a short hair cut. He stands about four inches shorter than his lanky father who seemed in an ebullient mood today, even more good tempered, gracious and polite than usual.

I chatted with folks wandering in and out of the various offices. We talked about the grief Jay Ashley received for his brief role in a bisexual video at the beginning of his career - Bi Bi Love. Jay and Kaitlyn Ashley were frequently discussed when news of Tricia Devereaux's HIV positive status broke. Jay and Kaitlyn have both "lived the life." According to last reports, Kaitlyn has found a new love in Tennessee.

Both Kaitlyn and Alyssa Love left porn shortly after working with Marc Wallice. Love now resides in Texas.

Leading porn talent agent Jim South seemed happily busy today as prospective talent floods into his office down the hall from PAW.

Sharon Mitchell arrived around noon. She called AVN to tell them to stop calling Caroline, because the Hungarian girl is not going to talk to the media and does not want to be bothered.

At 12:30 PM, Jim South broke for lunch and walked with him down Van Nuys Blvd.

Luke: What's happening?

Jim: I haven't heard anything. I need to just make a living rather than argue and fight.

Luke: Any new girls that you are excited about?

Jim: Yes, that blonde girl Rosa [behind us]. She mailed us her photos from Texas. We get a lot of mail-ins. I call them back. I'm very honest with them on the phone and find out what they are interested in doing - magazines or movies. They tell me. I try to tell them about getting an HIV test. She got the wrong type of test. So she has to wait a few days to get her PCR test to come back. We stay busy.

We get an average of 15-23 new talent a week. We can't get all of them work. Some just do single girl magazines [a relatively minor source of income for Jim].

I imagine that 85% of my work comes from videos. Years ago it was reversed. But when you do a movie, there could be up to 20 people booked, while a still shoot is only one or two.

Luke: A lot of people blame you for the explosion in boob jobs.

Laughter all round.

Jim: I have never ever recommended a surgeon for a boob job. I tried to talk Krysti Myst out of it. Her boyfriend tried to talk her out of it. Jack Michaels, of Cinderella, tried to talk her out of it. But they are their own boss. I would never recommend a girl to get a bust job. Never. I have a policy. None of us recommend surgeons because we see great jobs and bad jobs from the same people. So we do not want to be responsible for recommending somebody.

Luke: I hear that some male talent inject their penis to get erect on camera?

Jim: I know that there are a few who do it, but fewer than 1%. I think mentally, if you get accustomed to an artificial aid to getting it up, then you stop using it, from a mental standpoint you will have a problem.

Jim says that he represents about 60-70% of the talent who have agents.

On Tuesday morning, 5/12/98, Bill Margold left me this message on my phone machine. "At this point, I've been told that your presence at the PAW office [a division of the Free Speech Coalition] is not looked upon with favor. It is not my decision, it's the decision of the collective body that PAW needs to be a sanctuary. I am not sure that you are invading that sanctuary. At this time, until everything is taken care of, your presence is not requested. Now, I am sure that all of this will immediately wind up on the net. You are welcome to quote me. Let's hope that after this summer, we can reestablish some form of connection. I am not going to hide anything from you. I can use you to get the word out to people on the internet."

Subject: An open letter to Margold, PAW and FSC

From: Wayne Gordon <wayneg@phoenix.net>

Date: Tue, May 12, 1998 18:51 EDT

rec.arts.movies.erotica newsgroup:

To whom it may concern, but especially that cowardly, lurking lump known as Bill Margold:

I understand that the "collective body" of the FSC and PAW have deemed it proper to ban Luke F-rd from their offices. While this is certainly within your "collective rights", it strikes me as particularly counterproductive. Question...If Luke F-rd had not made public his contention that Marc Wallice was HIV positive, would he (Marc) still be working today? Are FSC and PAW members forbidden to access Luke's website, in kind? If so, how else might your organization find out what's going on?

Will the FSC and PAW subject itself to the questions of other media entities? Will they endure the hard-hitting investigative reporting of, say, AVN? (snicker)

I fail to see how banning Ford can do anything but damage your reputation, shaky as it is, for being honest and open. Did not a single member of PAW or FSC hear the rumors of Wallice's positive status? Why did it take Luke's reportage to force him to get tested under these circumstances? Sharon Mitchell initially stated that she believed Wallice to be the "likely patient zero" for the recent HIV outbreak, but since then appears to be hedging. Will a full report be given, upon it's completion, of the results of any strain-matching regarding Wallice and the others? The greater the extent of PAW/FSC's openness regarding these and other matters, the quicker performers can feel comfortable about the conditions under which they work, not to mention the public's ease of mind when renting or buying adult material.

I, for one, find it extremely discomfiting to rent adult material if I have the impression that the performers are ignorant of issues relevant to their work, or if information is being withheld, for whatever reason, especially by the parties who would claim to be the protectors of the on-screen talent. Outdated or incorrect information is a greater sin still, in my eyes.

Please see below.

As to Bill Margold's comments regarding the irrelevance of the internet, as he so ignorantly perceives it, I can only laugh. If he has problems with people using "net-names" rather than their legal ones, he need only look (surprise!) in his own backyard, the adult entertainment industry, to see where the use of pseudonyms may be appropriate for privacy and anonymity. As to his perception that the newsgroup RAME is a cowardly and dastardly bunch, he needs to realize that it is a free and open forum with postings by folks from all walks of life. No one who reads or posts there necessarily agrees with all of it's content, nor are they expected to. There are no limits to the subjects discussed and opined upon in the group, so long as they pertain to the subject of adult erotica. What's so evil about that? Lastly, as to his plan to "use" Ford after the summer to get out information via the net, this strikes me as hypocritical in the basest sense. If the internet consists of so many "fools", why use it ever? If it, and Luke, are to be "used" at all, why not now as well as later? Why not use the FSC web site? Some of the, errr, "kids" in the industry know how to use a mouse and keyboard, I'd venture.

In closing, I hope that the FSC sees fit to update the information presented on it's own web site. Is it still true that?....

(Quoting from the FSC site...)

"Actors who are known to be drug abusers-I.V or otherwise-and who refuse treatment are subsequently banned from performing. Often this information comes from other performers or producers who are as concerned about the health integrity of the adult entertainment industry as they are with creating entertaining products. Again, such self-policing measures often prove to be a reliable safety-net beneath the industry's other safety policies."

What of the rumors of Tricia Devereaux's and Brooke Ashley's I.V. drug use? Marc Wallice? Were they ever asked to take a drug test? Or is this simply self-serving bulls---?

As well...

(Quoting again....God, this is a whopper of a lie!..)

"To this date, there has not been one recorded case of an active performer in the heterosexual industry testing HIV positive in the contemporary era."

Still true? Well, then, why not update?

I can hardly wait.

Furthermore...

(Another quote....)

"Even with proper testing, the use of condoms by actors is commonplace in the production of adult video, and is solely the option of the actor."

The FSC dictate for condoms now negates this statement, does it not?

Finally...

(One more quote....)

"In communicating with these organizations, it has been made clear that the specific practices associates with the making of adult films are thought to be substantially responsible for the absence of HIV within this community."

In light of recent events and the circumstances which caused them, or may have, according to talk in the industry, some rewording of this may be appropriate...how about...

"Despite our bloated hype and bulls---, we f---ed up and now 4 performers are known HIV positive. Whoops!"

Regards,

Wayne Gordon

RAME's Brad Williams:

I wouldn't worry too much about some kind of ban on talking to Luke F-rd having an effect. Some of the people he has really been on the case of like Russ Hampshire and Margold seem pretty much to have decided they would rather talk to him than just ignore him. The porn industry craves the attention, and they aren't going to suddenly stop talking about any and everything under the sun.

Don't let Bill Margold's blather get under your skin because it only gives him more importance than he really has. If he had half the influence he so craves, he wouldn't always be pleading poverty with PAW and all the other TLA (three letter acronyms). If the FSC meant anything, the big boys like VCA would fund it in order to do something, like first hire a PR person since the informed consumer doesn't believe a word that comes out of the FSC and the average Joe doesn't give a damn. Some of the people that claimed to despise everything about the Internet and/or rame come rushing back after they realize "it" isn't going away just because some in the industry hate it. People in this country talk, and there isn't going to be some shortage of them just because "Free Speech" doesn't like it.

Expecting some kind of "organized" effort to squelch information will have the same effect(zilch) of any other organized effort of the biz.

As long as you have the same 'ol group running things, forget organization. They can't even keep track of HIV tests or stay on top of the issues concerning testing that about anyone that even remotely is interested already knows. Then you have members who are performers that could care less either way. That's why they are trying for the condom deal because there is no way they can effectively do anything else. Trusting these people to stay on top of testing, drug shooters, "deviants," etc. is not something I would bet my life on. At least the condom gives a little more protection than the "good faith" or sometimes not-so-good faith of producers,"agents," and performers.

If porn were somehow organized and united, they wouldn't have to deal with massive over-production choking their profits to the point that many are having a difficult time. Cartels and those who exist in a monopolistic competition market always control the supply to drive up the price and hence their profits. If the mafia or some type of criminal element were even remotely still connected to porn they would have long ago blown the s--- out of every Leisure Time tape deck and Mark C would be sitting at the bottom of a large body of water or part of the highway you drive on every day. Forget all the big numbers about how many billions blah..blah..blah because it is heavily spread-out. The people taking the lion's share are the distributors like GVC that are paying chump-change for the flicks to distribute them, and a couple of the Big Boys with some brand recognition.

To the ANTI-CONDOM crowd: why the rage? You know your viewpoint is going to win pretty quickly as soon as a company sees a decline in sales or an increase in a competitor's sales. FSC can't control Euro companies that are already making inroads presently into the American porn market, and amateur porn could care less about any mandates because they aren't stuck in the loop. After you win you'll also be able to really blast the hell out of the same people who took offense to your demand for condoms as those people quickly lose the condom demand in order to stay working.

Even if this condom-bit was univerally adopted, there are tremendous catalog of condomless flicks out there to choose from. If the issue gets down to just condoms or no-condoms, you'll certainly have a helluva choice. I wish those who like acting, decent stories, and budgets above the cost of a used Yugo had the same choice.

To the PRO-CONDOM industry people: I think you'd have better luck pushing the condom issue as the only way to ensure that the porn industry survives and keeps govt and law off the industry's ass. Making it some kind of "hey, feel sorry for the poor performer" doesn't really work because of freedom and money. As long as there exists a large body of performers and wanna-be performers who will work without a condom, this angle won't work. I smell a situation where producers are going to tell talent "since we are using condoms, your rate is going to have to be less" while the producer hopes to sell the same amount of tapes as the no-condom days(good damn luck).

It would work as basically a significant cut in labor costs which would increase the bottom line. As soon as the producer says "lower rates" though, some talent will say "the hell with condoms and low rates, f--- my ass bareback baby."

The only way to get everyone on the same page with the condom issue is to have some type of organization that frankly doesn't exist in porn.

When very short-term money is the sole motivator, it's every man or woman for themselves. If someone had any kind of thinking that didn't involve "long-term equals 2 weeks from now" you'd have happier consumers and not a big problem with the condom issue. You'd also be making a lot more money.

Brandy Alexandre:

The [PAW] office, for all its facade of caring concern, is supposed to be a haven for performers. If you have a hack journalist hanging out there recording everything said within its walls, they can't provide the services sought.

Whatever is "going on" within the organization may be worth investigating.

Luke will just have to use the methods that other investigative reporters use to get information. He can hang out on the sidewalk and try to interview people as they exit. Expecting a company that you repeatedly denounce to let you sit on their couch is ridiculous and I'm surprised it didn't happen sooner.

Wayne Gordon: Do you think they believe you might be getting too close to the truth, and that's the reason for your ostracism? What gives? This seems so sudden....and suspicious. Clamming up, are they? Did you ask the "wrong" questions?

It's one thing to ban poor old Luke, quite another to clam up in front of big-time local media. I can just picture reporters hounding B. Margold as he arrives at the FSC/PAW offices....chasing him across the parking lot...

"Bill, any comment about Rob Spallone's allegations?"

"Is there a coverup, Mr. Margold?"

"Why won't you talk?..."

They chase him to the door. Shaky hand-held camera footage airs at 5,6, and 10 of the chase. Bill pounds on the locked door...it opens quickly to reveal the troubled faces of South and Mitchell and just as quickly slams shut. Later footage captures rustling blinds and eyes peering out from within, pensive...Just like Mike Wallace used to do on 60 Minutes! ROTFLMAO

Keep your chin up, Luke!

A reporter: "Has Luke F-rd indeed been banned by the FSC? Isn't that the Free Speech Coalition or something? That can't be true. I can see industry trade groups, money-making organizations, industry-fronts and whatnot seeking to keep the HIV incidents in the industry as quiet as possible. After all, it's bad for business in a variety of ways. But journalists are used to getting stonewalled and lied to by industry spokespeople. It goes with the job. In fact, getting banned or boooted from meetings is generally a sign that a reporter is onto something hot or knows too much. Anyway, the FSC thing confounds me, height of newspeak and all that, if it's true. And as astonishing as it may sound,as a mainstream journalist I find that Luke seems to be first with the HIV scoops again and again. I also wonder how much of this would have even been aired at all were it not for his work. The actresses might have just quietly left the business. Marc Wallace might have continued working at least a little while longer. As preposterious as this might sound, were it not for Luke's postings and the subsequent reaction more people might have been infected. You never know. So, hang in there, Luke. The Nixon White House banned Woodward and Bernstein, too.

"Um, yes regarding the Luke F-rd / Woodstein analogy, it is a bit of a stretch -- OBVIOUSLY. But the concept behind the analogy, the stonewall and the potential of an initial coverup in the industry with regard to HIV testing and results may not be. And has anyone out there pondered the criminal possibilities, both the obvious ones and the seemingly far-fetched. Something tells me the the Free Speech Coalition and others in the industry have, along with the spectre of possibile health department or other regulation. I have a hunch that is what really concerns them, not free speech, which is a misnomer if there ever was one if they are indeed banning the press from their meetings -- or recommending that HIV positive talent not talk to reporters, which I undestand they have been doing. Imagine the ACLU or Common Cause banning the press from a meeting. Stonewalling and urging people not to talk is not saving lives. It's saving the industry money and legal heat. And talent should wake up to that. Anyway, keep agitating Luke. You never, ever, know how far things go. Follow the money, as the Deep Throat said." (RAME)

Star World's Rob Spallone demands to know how Luke F-rd found out that Marc Wallice was HIV positive ten days before the rest of the industry. "It seems that there is a cover-up going on. Either Free Speech or Jim South or whoever is not revealing all they know. We're talking people's lives here."

Both Kaitlyn Ashley and Alyssa Love left porn shortly after working with Marc Wallice. Love now resides in Texas and Ashley in Tennessee. Other porn insiders worry about what happened to pornographer Brad Gunches, who was last seen at World Modeling in 1995.